MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Medan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Medan) has officially submitted a request for public information to the Mayor of Medan and the Regent of Deli Serdang through the Public Information and Documentation Management Officers (PPID) of Medan City and Deli Serdang Regency.
The request seeks full disclosure of the allocation and use of Regional Budget (APBD) funds designated for the renovation of several buildings belonging to vertical government institutions, including the Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) building of Medan City Police (Polrestabes Medan), the police evidence storage facility, the Sunggal Police Subsector (Polsubsektor), and several other government institution buildings.
According to LBH Medan, the public has the right to know the legal basis, political considerations, and urgency behind the regional governments' decision to allocate public funds for the renovation of facilities owned by vertical government institutions. To date, neither the Medan City Government nor the Deli Serdang Regency Government has provided a comprehensive explanation regarding the rationale for the budget allocation.
LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., stated that the request for public information is an exercise of the constitutional right to access information as guaranteed under Article 28F of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia in conjunction with Article 4 paragraphs (1) and (2) of Law No. 14 of 2008 concerning Public Information Disclosure.
"Article 7 of the same law also explicitly obliges every public body to provide, disseminate, and publish information under its authority accurately, correctly, and in a manner that is not misleading," Irvan said in an official statement on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW:
LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., emphasized that citizens have a constitutional right to obtain information regarding the legal basis, planning process, and decision-making behind the use of Regional Budget funds for renovating buildings belonging to vertical government institutions. (PHOTO: Doc.
LBH Medan)
Questions Raised Over Legal Basis and Budget Allocation
Irvan explained that information gathered by
LBH Medan indicates that both the Medan City Government and the
Deli Serdang Regency Government allocated Regional Budget funds in the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years to renovate several buildings belonging to vertical government institutions, including facilities used by
Polrestabes Medan and the Sunggal Police Subsector.
According to him, the decision has generated widespread public concern because no adequate explanation has been provided regarding the legal basis or the necessity of the expenditure.
"This policy appears problematic and raises numerous concerns. It has prompted significant public criticism regarding its legal foundation, urgency, political decision-making process, and overall public benefit," he said.
Through its request for public information, LBH Medan has urged the PPID of Medan City and the PPID of Deli Serdang Regency to disclose all documents related to the decision.
The requested documents include the legal basis for the budget allocation, planning documents, records of the political decision-making process, needs assessments, detailed budget allocations, and any other documents that formed the basis for using Regional Budget funds to renovate the buildings.
LBH Medan emphasized that transparency is essential to ensure that the public fully understands how decisions involving public funds are made. Every expenditure from the Regional Budget, the organization stressed, must be supported by a clear legal basis and remain fully accountable.
Transparency and Accountability in Regional Budget Spending
LBH Medan stated that the request aims to ensure that every Regional Budget expenditure complies with applicable laws and regulations while promoting transparent, accountable, and law-based governance in accordance with the principles of Good Governance.
The organization believes that citizens have the right to oversee every government policy involving the use of regional public funds. Public access to information, it said, serves as a vital instrument for strengthening public oversight of government administration.
LBH Medan further emphasized that the Regional Budget originates from taxpayers' money and therefore should be managed effectively, efficiently, and with priority given to programs that directly benefit the public.
"The Mayor of Medan and the Regent of
Deli Serdang are currently facing far more urgent priorities, including repairing damaged roads, addressing flooding, improving drainage systems, strengthening waste management, investing in healthcare and education, reducing poverty, and creating employment opportunities," Irvan said.
He added that regional governments should focus public spending on programs that deliver direct and measurable benefits to the community. Every budgetary decision, he said, must provide the greatest possible public benefit while remaining legally accountable.
PUBLIC NEEDS SHOULD COME FIRST:
LBH Medan maintains that Regional Budget funds should prioritize infrastructure improvements, flood mitigation, education, healthcare, and poverty reduction. The organization is also preparing legal action should its public information request remain unanswered. (PHOTO: Doc.
LBH Medan)
LBH Medan Prepares Legal Action
LBH Medan affirmed that it will continue monitoring the issue as part of its commitment to overseeing public policy, strengthening the rule of law, and protecting human rights.
Should the Medan City Government or the Deli Serdang Regency Government fail to provide the requested information within the timeframe stipulated under Law No. 14 of 2008 on Public Information Disclosure, the organization said it would pursue legal action.
The first step would be filing a formal objection with the relevant public authorities. If the request remains unanswered,
LBH Medan plans to bring the dispute before the Information Commission. The organization also stated that it does not rule out reporting alleged corruption to the Attorney General's Office or the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should indications of unlawful practices in the use of public funds emerge.
LBH Medan expressed hope that both the Medan City Government and the Deli Serdang Regency Government would promptly disclose the requested information, demonstrating their commitment to transparency in public financial management and respect for citizens' constitutional right to access public information. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Darmailawati | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala